arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)

A Night of Tension, A Day of Hope:
The Workers of Brukman Evicted
marie trigona
April 18, 2003

Last night at 12am, some 200 police officers evicted Brukman, a suit factory under worker control. The 55 workers, mostly women took over the factory in December, 2001. This is the third eviction that the workers have experienced.

This eviction came unexpectedly, with the government determined to use brutal force at all costs to repress attempts to reoccupy the factory. Brukman workers, neighbors, assemblies, piqueteros and different organizations arrived shortly after the news spread that Brukman was being evicted. The response was strong, sending a message of the absolute urgency and gravity of the situation.

Tension ran strong throughout the night, with supporters enduring rain and heavy police presence. Police were given orders to guard the factory until it's ensured that workers will not return. In past evictions, police were never given these orders. The two evictions also resulted with the workers reoccupying the factory. The government is signaling zero-tolerance as hundreds of police continue to guard the factory and the streets on the surrounding blocks.

Today, thousands of supporters have concentrated to send the message that this eviction will not continue and that Brukman will continue to produce under worker control. "We don't want eviction, we don't want repression--we want dignified work for the workers of Brukman and Zanon," sing many supporters.

It's unclear how today will end, the amount of police is overwhelming. At less than 10 days before upcoming elections, the government has embarked on
a state terror campaign against worker controlled factories, occupied spaces. This is the second eviction this week, the first coming with the eviction of Lezama-Sur, home of indymedia.